Richmond Public Schools rewards students for being healthy

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - A new program is rewarding Richmond students for healthy eating habits and for being active.

Richmond Public Schools held their first "Fit for Life" fitness challenge at Sportbackers Stadium on the Boulevard Tuesday morning.

150 middle schoolers took part in relay races, a tennis racket run, and sack races for a $100 prize.

"The whole idea is just for six weeks to pilot a group of our students to be active and today is the culmination with our field day", says William James, who works with Richmond Public Schools' athletic department.

The event is a part of the district's recently launched wellness program, designed to teach students how to get mentally and physically fit through an increased focus on health.

Richmond Public Schools say the district was inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign.